Chapter 100: Six-Eared Macaque

Qin Siyuan suddenly realized why his poetry always lacked a bit of inspiration.

He was overjoyed and felt like scratching his ears and cheeks, wanting to open the door and rush out to jump and shout, telling everyone he met, "I understand now, so this is it."

But the words Qin Yuan had someone bring to him made him understand that not a hint of this matter could be leaked.

Nor could he share this manuscript with Lin Ziqi.

Qin Yuan’s guidance was worth its weight in gold; he had found the right teacher, it was like being reborn.

Qin Siyuan was filled with gratitude.

Upon hearing a noise outside the door, he hurriedly collected himself, stuffed the manuscript into the bookcase at his bedside, planning to study it well when no one was around.

His long reading habits had trained him to remember the crucial points Qin Yuan mentioned, but he still couldn’t bear to destroy the manuscript and wanted to ponder it deeply in solitude.

Just as he closed the bookcase, Lin Ziqi pushed the door open and came in.

Nowadays, Lin Ziqi was much more decently dressed than before his marriage, and he looked much better in color. As soon as he entered, he asked, "Have you been studying at home these past few days?"

Having to hide the matter with Qin Yuan, Qin Siyuan couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty, forcing a smile and saying, "Not much studying, my little sister had something to ask me to do, and I’ve been busy with that for the past couple of days."

"Are you planning to attend the poetry society at Yu Yuantang?"

Lin Ziqi did not wait for him to answer and added, "I also plan to invite Sixth Master Gu, you should meet him, we’re all family."

Qin Siyuan was stunned.

"Sixth Master Gu?"

The name of Sixth Master Gu, who was known for being a pretentious participant in the arts, who didn’t know it, Lin Ziqi, was he intentional or unintentional?

"Yes, didn’t you meet Sixth Master Gu when you went to the Marquis Mansion?"

Lin Ziqi curiously asked.

Qin Siyuan shook his head, "I just spoke a few words with my little sister and didn’t manage to meet any elders at the Marquis Mansion."

Lin Ziqi, pretending to be unintentional, said, "But Brother Heng was introduced to Old Madam by my elder sister and received many meeting gifts. I thought it would be the same when you went to the Marquis Mansion. Old Madam Gu is truly generous, the meeting gifts alone are probably two or three hundred taels of silver."

Qin Siyuan smiled.

Lin Ziqi asked again, "What did elder sister ask you to help with? I heard Brother Heng say elder sister gave him a few instructions, telling you to make sure to go immediately."

Qin Siyuan replied with a smile, "It’s nothing major, it’s just that my little sister was worried that Brother Heng can be forgetful, so she said it more seriously."

But he just wouldn’t say what Qin Yuan wanted him for.

Lin Ziqi repeatedly used words to probe him, but couldn’t find out anything, so Qin Siyuan had no choice but to say, "I still have books that I haven’t finished memorizing, so I’ll go study first. Regarding the poetry society, I’ll leave it to you to arrange."

Only then did Lin Ziqi stop talking.

...

When Shen Changle hurried back to the Marquis Mansion to report, Qin Yuan had already finished dinner, and a dish was specially left for him as a reward.

"Thank you, Madam, for the generous gift."

Shen Changle held the dish and left delightedly.

Being rewarded twice with dishes in one day, he was the first among the attendants to receive such an honor, indicating that Madam was very satisfied with his work and would increasingly rely on him.

Cui Ming said, "Shen Changle really does things carefully."

Hong Ye also said, "Careful to an extreme."

Actually, she thought he was being a bit too careful.

Qin Yuan put down the teacup in her hand, looked at the still-swaying beaded curtain, and sighed lightly, "There’s still a lot you all have to learn. You only think he is being overly careful, but you don’t realize that he, not understanding anything, just from the story I told, could understand the relation it had to his cousin’s future and therefore did all these to cover it up. With such a person handling things, how can I not feel assured?"

Hong Ye’s face turned red, she bit her lower lip and kept silent.

Cui Ming said, "He is indeed rare for being so careful and attentive, but no one is perfect, what shortcomings does he have?"

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Watch more, test more, and you will know his shortcomings. Later, just test Mrs. Li this way to see what she can handle, and what things are beyond her ability. Keep these in mind and remind her to be careful."

Cui Ming nodded and remembered it.

Hong Ye sighed, "Among the nanny in the tea room, I haven’t found one that’s useful, but when it comes to gathering news, they’re all astute."

Qin Yuan said, "Otherwise, why would I let you supervise the tea room, to know more about the news in the mansion so as not to be left in the dark. I can’t rely on Nanny Rong all the time for guidance. One, she doesn’t know everything; two, there are some things she can’t speak of out of necessity. With you, I won’t turn into a deaf and blind person. Now, tell me, aren’t you important?"

Hong Ye immediately regained her spirits, no longer comparing herself to Cui Ming, and said, "Then I am indeed very important."

Cui Ming just stared at her smiling, Hong Ye curiously asked, "Why are you smiling?"

"I’m laughing because you’re just like the Six-Eared Macaque."

Qin Yuan laughed.

The Six-Eared Macaque impersonated Sun Wukong, it was a fake, but it has a great skill, standing still, it can know things happening a thousand miles away, no mortal speech can escape its ears, so nothing can be hidden from it.

Cui Ming came up with this as an analogy.

Hong Ye found it both amusing and frustrating, lunging over to pinch Cui Ming, saying, "Why didn’t you say I am The Great Sage Equalling Heaven?"

Cui Ming dodged while laughing, struggling to say, "The Great Sage Equalling Heaven doesn’t chatter as you do, in this aspect, you resemble the Second Senior Brother."

"Hahaha."

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Hong Ye got annoyed, saying, "Miss is happy now, joining in to laugh at me too."

Qin Yuan innocently said, "How am I happy?"

Hong Ye sourly said, "Naturally, it’s because with the Marquis supporting you, Prince Qi Mansion won’t get involved in the pepper business, and with no worries on your mind, you find joy in mocking me."

Qin Yuan retorted, "Listen to what you’re saying, I think Cui Ming isn’t wrong, The Great Sage wouldn’t speak like this."

Hong Ye: "..."

Qin Yuan laughed, "You did remind me though, Prince Qi Mansion won’t dip into the pepper business, why would they have people raising prices everywhere and not let people rush to sell, could there be another reason behind this? If you can even find this out, I’ll bestow you the title of The Great Sage."

Cui Ming said, "Perhaps the Marquis did something to change Prince Qi Mansion’s mind?"

Qin Yuan fidgeted with the edge of the round fan, thought for a moment, and said, "I don’t think so."

As for why not, she couldn’t say.

In the past life, Gu Jinghui had openly declared that if the court wouldn’t let him fight at the Northern Border anymore, he had no other ambitions and would just live on his salary day by day.

He did as he said, and did not participate in the princes’ struggle for the throne, even when he couldn’t decline a post from the Ministry of War, it was just a titular position.

Others said Marquis Gu closed his doors and lived a small life with his favored concubine, ears oblivious to the affairs beyond the window.

Thinking about it now, living a secluded life for the sake of his beloved concubine seemed like a ruse, completely isolating the Dingbei Marquis Mansion from the power struggle for the throne.

So, how could Marquis Gu possibly connect with Prince Qi for the sake of her pepper business?

Hong Ye knew that when Qin Yuan said no, it truly meant no, she said disappointedly, "I thought Marquis might have gone to find Prince Qi Mansion to please you, Miss."